We held this session downtown, partially in Millennium Park and partially off Michigan Avenue. I think every photographer in the tri-state area was in the park that day so I was so happy when everyone agreed to head over to the grove of trees next to the Art Institute.

For photogs: The grove of trees was DARK. This was a true case of pushing my equipment to it’s limits. These shots are iso 640 with a Nikon D700, 85mm, 1.4f.

I love that we captured posed pictures with grandma and grandpa as well as spontaneous images of the girls during the window of late afternoon light. (Photogs out there, can you say “natural rim light?”)

Oh, and the weather seems set to continue with this ridiculous gloriousness all weekend… pinch me.

This final image below I had to add in black and white, because color really doesn’t matter here. This is an image about what it feels like to be a mom. This is posted for any mom out there with little living, breathing bundles of energy clamoring all over you (physically climbing on you!), wanting you to share in their every moment, loving you, watching you, waiting for you and making your life unpredictable.

So many of the images that portrait photographers take are set up. Even those photographers who labels themselves as “lifestyle” or “candid” photographers go to great lengths to get things to look more spontaneous than they are in reality.

After wrapping up this extended family session, which included a large group portrait, smaller groupings and extra images of the children, I asked the family members to sit in a circle on the grass and talk with each other while I photographed them from a distance. They were happy to oblige! Using a 70-200mm lens, I walked in wide circles around the group several times for about ten minutes.

Yes, they knew they were being photographed. However, I was far enough away that they didn’t know when. I must admit that it seemed “wrong” to have my subjects face inwards and from the camera. How counterintuitive! At first, everyone was stiff and the conversation they made was a little forced. Some members of the circle were still keeping tabs on my location. But after a minute or so I could see them let down their guard. One toddler started cruising, the other wanted cheerios. Normal family life overtook the portrait session.

Considering this took only an extra ten minutes, required no special preparation, created the perfect complement to a set of portraits, and left everyone (including me) in a happy mood, I can’t wait to offer this to more families at the end of their sessions. NOT looking at the camera is great!

Extended family portraits are the hardest to orchestrate for both the client and the photographer. There are the extra logistics of coordinating many family schedules, a suitable location, and usually a wildcard toddler. Let’s not also forget that most extended sessions happen on weekend afternoons, when dads would really prefer to be out on the golf course, at home watching a football game, or catching up on odd jobs around the house.

I used to shy away from extended sessions but in the last few years I have done a 180. Soppy as it sounds, having a record of everyone in an image together truly is priceless. And of course after the main group portrait is shot, a family can spend time catching up together on a beautiful afternoon while I photograph smaller groupings and the children on their own.

Many thanks for a delightful afternoon!

And finally, I was thrilled to capture this “touching noses” moment between granddad and toddler while getting everyone in position for the extended family portrait.

As I pulled up to the lakehouse, the sun became diffuse and a dark trail of thunderstorm clouds started to build up across the lake to the west. What initially felt like a bad omen became the makings of great portrait session with this family.

The changing sky made the perfect backdrop. I loved capturing both the “set up” portraits and the spontaneous moments that occurred in between.

Just as we were wrapping up, the sky did open up with torrential rains. So it seems our timing was just meant to be… thank you for having me at your little slice of heaven.

There are less than 5 weekend portraits sessions available before the end of October, which is when the weather starts to turn more unpredictable. If you want to get on board for some fabulous fall portraits please don’t leave it until the last minute!

In other news, The October 22nd Family Mini Sessions are now fully booked. The September 24th sessions still have availability. Get it touch to get added to the schedule before it is too late.

Finally, in lieu of a full blog post (which I promise is coming soon), I just had to post this one image. I love it. We bottled up that late-afternoon feeling of sitting on a beach and letting the waves come off the water and cool your soul.